Greenwich painter charged with failing to pay workers

Published 4:22 pm, Saturday, September 26, 2009

STAMFORD -- A Greenwich painter was arraigned Friday in state Superior Court on charges that he failed to pay more than $17,000 in wages to his employees.

Michael Grbic, 33, of 59 Old Mill Road, Greenwich, faces five counts each of failure to produce records and failure to pay wages, and one count of failure to pay premium overtime.

The investigation started when one former employee, Ofer Cano-Cruces, reported Grbic to the Connecticut Department of Labor, claiming Grbic owed him more $10,000 for work he did for Grbic's painting company from August 2008 to January 2009, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

While the state was investigating Cano-Cruces's claims, four more former employees reported Grbic and said he owed them each $1,620, the affidavit stated.

When contacted, Grbic allegedly told investigators he knew about Cano-Cruces's claims, but said his company had been subcontracted to do painting work and had not yet been paid by the client.

Grbic also said Cano-Cruces's claims were exaggerated and he had the paperwork to prove it, but he failed to show up for scheduled hearings or provide the paperwork, the affidavit stated. He denied knowledge about the other claims, the affidavit said.

Grbic's attorney, Rashmi Patel, argued successfully for his bond to be reduced to $2,300 cash because, she said in court, he would be unable to pay back wages from jail. Patel did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Staff Writer Monica Potts can be reached at monica.potts@scni.com or 203-964-2266.